Come See the Parade!

Lesson Book page 46

what's new

Bass staff—top space G
The first 16-measure piece on the Grand Staff

what's important

Recognizing and playing top space G on the bass staff
Playing a longer piece that reviews many concepts

let's get started

Step down several times with your LH from Middle C to Bass G. Say the key names aloud. Does it sound like a march as you play?
Point to the notes at the top of page and say, "Line-space-line-space". Notice that G is the top space.
Let's try measures 5 and 6. Find another place where you play the same thing.
The piano imitates horns for the introduction. Which two notes are used? Where do the horns return to end the piece?

The piano can imitate horns!

explore and create

Out of Sight
The band disappears as it marches down the street at the end. How would this sound?
Come Join My Parade
Could other players join the parade? (With a partner, or as a group: Tap on a drum, table top, or triangle, march around the room, play an ostinato C-C-G-G on another piano.)
A Medley of Tunes
This band can play many songs! Combine a group of your favorites—like Honking Cars, Mister Bluebird, A Ten-Second Song ... (Play a vamp while finding the next page. Using sticky notes will help.) Begin and end with Come See the Parade. (See video and download duet)

Make a merry medley of pieces!

partner pages

Theory

p. 34 Learning G, p. 35 The Holiday Turkey

Students name notes, sightread, and do a crossword puzzle.

Technique & Artistry

p. 21 Catch Me If You Can

A five-finger pattern moves in octaves up the keyboard. One hand must prepare while the other hand plays.

Performance

p. 20 Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Circle all the repeated notes.
Play the LH with finger 4 or 3. Which one do you prefer?
Double Cheese Sandwich!
Help students memorize the form with this metaphor:
Mm. 1-4 are a slice of fresh bread.
Mm. 5-6 are a slice of cheese (or ham, turkey, etc.)
Mm. 7-8 are another slice of cheese, etc.
Mm. 9-12 is the bread on top.
(Play different sections for the student.) Is this the bread or the cheese?
Memorize your "sandwich".

pedagogy pointers

Here's a peppy way to introduce the G in the top space of the bass staff. The piece combines elements the student has played up to this point, and it is also the first 16-measure piece the student reads on the Grand Staff.

Playing by memory should be part of every lesson—whether a five-finger scale, two-measure pattern in a piece, or an entire tune. From the earliest lessons, create easy opportunities for the student to be successful with memory. Both Come See the Parade and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star offer elements of musical form for the student to hear—an introduction and ending, or "a double-cheese sandwich". Make memorizing memorable!

accompaniments on disk

CD Tracks 60-61
MIDI File 30

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